Ahtahkakoop First Nation

Born in 1816, Chief Ahtahkakoop, meaning Starblanket in Cree, rose to be a respected and tactical leader of the Cree Nation in the latter part of the 19th century. At the onset of his leadership, the plains buffalo herds were more than abundant, providing the mainstay of social and economical balance so vital to the survival of its people. The arrival of the European settlers would irrevocably alter this delicate balance, forcing Chief Ahtahkakoop to seek alternate means of survival for his own. In 1876, he and his cousin, Chief Mistawasis, were the two leading Chiefs to sign Treaty 6 at Fort Carlton, agreeing to relocate his members to 67 square miles of land, now known as Sandy Lake, near present day Prince Albert. He died on December 4, 1896 at the age of 81. Despite the hardships and gruelling decisions faced by Chief Ahtahkakoop, he remained revered by the Cree Nation, enough so for the reserve land that he is buried on to bear his name to this day.